Brake beam support



Dec. 22, 1942. D. s. BARROWS BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Filed Oct. 14, 1940. 2Sheets-Sheet l W B J M Dec. 22, 1942. s, ows 7 2,305,949

BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Filed Oct. 14, 1940 ZSheets-Shet 2 Patented Dec. 22,1942 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Application October14, 1940, Serial No. 361,153

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a brake beam support and more particularly toa type thereof which is carried independently of the side frame.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a brake beamsupport, in a railway truck, which is capable of maintaining a brakebeam in alignment with the axis of an axle during all service movementsof the truck.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a railway truck, ofa brake beam support connected to spaced axle boxes and maintainingconstant vertical relation between brake beams and the journal boxes andadjacent or associated wheels.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a railway truckhaving a side frame vertically movable relative to its associatedjournal boxes, of a cast, unitary structure extending between thejournal boxes and adapted to carry brake beams and guide the latter toand away from wheel contacting position.

These and other objects will become apparent from the succeedingdescription of an exemplary form of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational View of a railway truck embodyinga form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the lines22 of Figure 1,

manner, a railway truck, only the lower extremity of which is shown. Therailway truck comprises a side frame 2 which forms a longitudinal memberpositioned adjacent each transverse limit of the truck. Forming the sideframe is a lower or tension member 3 which joins a compression member(not shown) adjacent the longitudinal extremities of the truck topresent downwardly extending jaws 4 defining an opening 5 therebetween.Positioned within each opening is a journal box 6 housing an axleextremity l thereinrand supporting the related side frame extremitythrough the medium of springs 8 which may be of any character or design.The side frame is, by reason of the springs, movable nal box for thepurpose to be hereinafter explained. The bails or legs of each journalbox have inwardly extending bosses or bushings [3 which rigidify thebails and present an appreciable cross sectional area. Extending betweenand joined integrally to the legs of each journal box is a bottom tie orhorizontally disposed plate It spaced a predetermined distance below andsubstantially parallel with the bottom wall. Intermediate thelongitudinal limits of each plate is a transversely and verticallydisposed reinforcing rib l5 which merges at its extremities with theadjacent or associated legs.

It is well known and recognized that since wheels l6 are fixed withrespect to the axles and that they are arranged in fixed relation withwith the wheels. When journal boxes are formed integral with the sideframe or removably secured thereto and adapted to move therewith nogreat difiiculty is encountered because the braking mechanism may besuspended from or otherwise associated with the side frame proper.However, when vertically movable side frames are provided in railwaytrucks to be resiliently supported by the journal boxes, a suspension ofthe braking mechanism from the side frames will result in the wheelcontacting portion of the braking mechanism being urged vertically and,when the brakes are applied, subjecting the entire structure to severestrains.

In order to eliminate this last mentioned condition a cast brake beamsupport I! is arranged brake beam support desirably comprises end,longitudinally spaced cylindrical bearings or journals 18 positionedbetween and of a lesser extent than the horizontal distance between theinner and outer legs of the brackets. The end bearings are provided withapertures l9 which are in axial or horizontal alignment with apertures20 in the inner and outer bracket legs so as to accommodate a pivotalmeans or shaft, exemplified in the present structure in the form of aheaded pin 2!, thus pivotally connecting or securing the brake beamsupport to the journal boxes. inner bracket legs are in the proximity ofthe wheels it is desirable and more advantageous to associate any pinsecuring. means with the outer bracket legs, and for this reason thelatter are each provided with a counterbore or relief 22 in axialalignment with the aperture 20 to accommodate the pin head.Longitudinally disposed slots 23 open into the reliefs for the receptionof plates or keys 24, channel-shape in plan as when viewing Figure 2, tobe interlocked with the bracket outer legs and overlie, in arrestingposition, the pins, to thereby prevent an accidental displacement of thepins. Sufficient clearance is provided about the pin to accommodateslight service movements between the brake beam support and journalboxes.

Joining the end bearings is a desirably I- shaped intermediate portion,bridge, link or bar 25 preferably formed integrally therewith andcomprising verticallyspaced upper or top and lower or bottom flanges 26and 21, respectively. The flanges, which are substantially tangent toand merge with the end bearings, are connected or united intermediatetheir transverse limits by a vertical, longitudinally extending, centralweb 28 to form therewith a rigid, durable and relatively simpleconstruction capable of withstanding a superimposed load and servicestresses.

Consideration has been given to the possible failure or fracture of thejournal box-brake beam support connection while the truck is in serviceor transit. It will be noted that if some precautions are not taken thebrake beam support may, through a failure of some part, be dislodgedfrom its illustrated position to drop upon the roadway and cause greatproperty loss. For this reason, therefore, safety lugs 29 depend fromthe link lower flange in spaced relation to the bracket plates inwardlyof the truck toward the transverse center line thereof. As will beobserved, if there is a failure of the pins or any other portion of theconnection, the brake beam support extremities will drop a slightdistance to rest upon or be carried by the bracket plates, and anytendency of the brake beam support to shift in a longitudinal directionwill be limited by the safety lugs.

The brake beam support and particularly the intermediate portion 25thereof is positioned inwardly ,of the truck and spaced from a verticalplane passing through the longitudinal axis of the side frame to beinclose proximity to the associated wheels. A fragment or section of theintermediate portion on each side of the transverse center line thereofis sloped or inclined, as at 30, with respect to the horizontal; eachsloping section preferably starting a predetermined distance from thetransverse center line of the truck and terminating at a point above theextended horizontal plane of the end bearings. The sloping sectionsdiverge outwardly of the truck and are tapered in a direction toward theaxis of an adjacent axle so that an extended plane Since the I of a topsurface 3| of each inclined section top flange will pass the axis of theassociated axle at a point vertically therebeneath. Bearing upon eachinclined section top surf-ace is a movable brake beam extremity 32 whichis oblong in vertical cross section to present an appreciable bearingarea between the brake beam extremity and support therefor.

Carried by each brake beam, adjacent an extremity thereof, is aconventional brake head 33 and related shoe 34, the latter of which isadapted to contact the associated wheel during a brake application toretard the progress of the truck. The inclined sections 30, andparticularly the top surfaces thereof, are of suflicient length to formsuitable guide'faces to keep the brake beam extremities in apredetermined path throughout .their entire range ofservice movementfrom an application to a full release of the brakes. Each inclinedsection is arranged so that an axis of the brake beam, designated by thediagrammatic line AA, if extended, will intersect the axis of theadjacent axle and wheel.

In order to maintain the brake beams in a predetermined position andpermit them to travel along a fixed path, an auxiliary or supplementalflange 35 is arranged parallel with each inclined section and spaced agiven distance above the top surface thereof for the accommodation ofthe associated brake beam extremity. Each inclined section andconfronting auxiliary flange are spaced apart a suflicient distance topresent a guideway to allow a free unrestricted inclined servicemovement of the interposed brake beam extremity. The auxiliary flange ispositioned adjacent the related axle extremity of the associatedinclined section and is of a length preferably less than the length ofthe section so that the brake beam may be moved to a location indicatedby the diagrammatic lines 36 from beneath the overlying flange 35 whenceit may be removed from the truck.

Joining a free extremity of each auxiliary flange and related inclinedsection top flange is a connecting flange-31 disposed vertically of thebrake beam support and defining the outer limit of the guideway. A rib38, extending longitudinally of the truck and in substantial verticalalignment with the web 28, forms an upstanding knee brace uniting eachauxiliary and connecting flange with the top flange of the intermediateportion and thereby rigidifying the structure against service stressesto which it will be subjected.

It will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to theinstant structure and that the drawings and description herein containedare for the purpose of illustration only and not to be construed as alimitation or deflnition of the elements of the invention; referencebeing had to the appended claims for the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a railway truck including a side frame, a journal box and axleadjacent each end thereof, said journal boxes being movable verticallyrelative to one another, a bracket depending from each journal box, abrake beam support extending between said journal boxes and having anend portion pivotally connected to an associated bracket, spaced guideson said brake beam support intermediate the ends thereof; said guidesbeing inclined toward the axis of an associated axle, and means belowsaid brake beam-support for preventing said support from dropping beyonda predetermined amount upon failure of said pivotal connection.

2. In a railway truck including a vertically movable side frame with ajournal box and axle adjacent each end thereof, a yoke cast integral anddepending from each journal box, a cast brake beam support extendingbetween said journal boxes and having an end portion pivotally connectedto an associated yoke, and a flange adjacent each support extremity castintegral therewith, said flanges and support defining guideways inclinedand directed toward said axle for the reception of brake beams.

3. In a railway truck 'including a vertically movable side frame with ajournal box and axle adjacent each end thereof, a yoke'depending.

from each journal box below the related axle, a brake beam supportbridging said journal boxes, 2. bearing adjacent the extremities of saidbrake beam support, means extending through said yokes and bearings forpivotally securing said brake beam support to said journal boxes, andlongitudinally extending guideways positioned between the verticalplanes of said axles and formed in said brake beam support to bedirected toward associated axles for the accommodation of brake beams.

4. In a railway truck including a vertically movable side frame with ajournal box and axle adjacent each end thereof, a bracket depending fromeach journal box below the related axle, a brake beam support bridgingsaid journal boxes, a bearing adjacent the extremities of said brakebeam support, means extending through said brackets and bearings forpivotally securing said brake beam support to said journal boxes, andlongitudinally extending guideways in said brake beam support directedtoward associated axles for the accommodation of brak beams; said brakebeam support being spaced inwardly of the truck from a longitudinal axisof said side frame.

5. In a railway truck including a side frame with a journal box adjacenteach end thereof, a yoke depending from and formed integral with eachjournal box, a brake beam support extending between said journal boxes,means securing said brake beam support to said yokes, guiding meansspaced longitudinally of said truck and formed in said brake beamsupport for the ac- 6. In a railway truck including a side frame with ajournal box adjacent each end thereof, a bracket depending from andformed integral with each journal box, a brake beam support extendingbetween said journal boxes, means securing said brake beam support tosaid "brackets, and inclined guiding means spaced longitudinally of saidtruck formed in said brake beam support for the accommodation ofassociated brake beams; said brake beam support being spaced inwardly ofsaid truck from a longitudinal axis of said side frame.

7. In a railway truck including a side frame with a journal box housingan axle adjacent each end thereof, a bracket depending from each of saidjournal boxes, a brake beam support extending between said journalboxes, and transversely extending means securing extremities of saidbrake beam support to said brackets, said brake beam support beingI-shaped in cross section,

intermediate its ends, and having inclined guideways for theaccommodation of brake beams.

8. In a brake beam support, the combination of an intermediate portionI-shaped in vertical cross section, means adjacent the ends thereof forconnection to longitudinally spaced journal boxes and inclined guidewayson said intermediate portion directed toward axes of longitudinallyspaced axles.

9. In a cast brake beam support, the combination of an intermediatebridge having a vertical web and a top flange, means adjacent the endsof said intermediate bridge for connection to longitudinally spacedjournal boxes and inclined guideways on said intermediate bridgedirected toward axes of longitudinally spaced axles.

10. In a brake beam support, the combination of an intermediate linkcomprising a vertical web and a top flange, apertured bearings formingextremities or" said brake beam support, auxiliary flanges spacedlongitudinally of said intermediate link and above said top flange toform guideways therebetween, and a reinforcing rib connecting eachauxiliary flange to said top flange.

11. In a brake beam support, the combination of an intermediate bridgecomprising a vertical web and. a top flange, means forming extremitiesor said brake beam support for connection to longitudinally spacedjournal boxes, said top flange being inclined throughout sectionsthereof in a direction toward axes of longitudinally spaced axles,auxiliary flanges space-d above and paral- 161 with said inclinedsections to define guideways therebetween, and means connecting saidauxiliary flanges to said intermediate bridge.

12. In a brake beam support, the combination of longitudinally spacedend apertured bearings for connection to spaced journal boxes, anintermediate link connecting said bearings and comprising verticallyspaced top and bottom flanges joined by a vertically disposed web, saidtop flanges being inclined throughout sections thereof in a directiontoward axes of longitudinally spaced axles, means spaced above andparallel with said top flange inclined sections to deflne guidewaystherebetween, and means upstanding from and connecting said top flangesand first named means.

13. In a brake beam support, the combination of longitudinally spacedend bearings for association with spaced journal boxes, an intermediateportion connecting said bearings and comprising a top flange and avertical web depending from said flange, sections of said top flangebeing inclined toward axes of longitudinally spaced axles, said inclinedsections extending to a horizontal plane above said end bearings, andguideways associated with said inclined sections ior the reception ofbrake beams.

14. In a brake beam support, the combination of longitudinally spacedend bearings for association with spaced journal boxes, an intermediateportion connecting said end bearings and comprising a top flange and avertical web de pending from said top flange, auxiliary flanges spacedlongitudinally of said support and above said top flange, said auxiliaryflanges and that portion of said top flange therebeneath being inclinedwith respect to a. horizontal plane to present guideways therebetween,and upstanding ribs in vertical alignment with said Web forming a bracebetween said auxiliary flanges and top flange.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

